Dear Savvy Senior,
Can you recommend any resources that offer help to family caregivers? I’ve been taking care of my 86-year-old mother and could use some help.
Burned-Out Brenda
Dear Brenda,
Caring for an aging parent or other loved one over a period of time can be very challenging both physically and mentally. Fortunately, there are a number of tips and services you can turn to that can help lighten the load. Here are several to consider.
Assemble a care team
A good first step is to put together a network of people including family, friends, and even neighbors that you can call on to help out when you can’t be there or need a break.
Tap local services
Many communities offer a range of free or subsidized services that help seniors and caregivers by providing things like home-delivered meals, transportation, senior companion services, and more. Call 211 to find out what’s available in your community, or call AARP’s caregiving resource center at (877) 333-5885 which provides referrals to local resources.
Use respite
Respite services can provide short-term care to your mom so you can take some time off. To locate services in your area, try the ARCH National Respite Network and Resource Center at http://ARCHrespite.org.
Hire in-home help
You may want to consider hiring a part-time home-care aide that can help with things like preparing meals, housekeeping, or personal care. Costs can run anywhere from $12 to $30 an hour, depending on where you live and the qualifications of the aide. To find help through an agency, use Medicare’s search tool http://Medicare.gov/care-compare. Or to find someone on your own, which is a more affordable way to go, try websites like http://Care.com or http://CareLinx.com.
Use financial tools
If you’re handling your mom’s finances, you can make things easier by arranging direct deposit for her income sources, and set up automatic payments for her utilities and other routine bills. Also, consider setting up your mom’s online banking service at her bank so you can pay her other bills and monitor her account anytime. If you want or need help, there are professional daily money managers (see AADMM.com to locate someone) that can do it for you. They charge between $60 and $150 per hour.
Also, if your mom is lower-income use http://BenefitsCheckup.org, a free, confidential website that will help you locate financial assistance programs that can help pay for her medications, utilities, health care, and other needs.
Get insurance help
If you have questions about what Medicare or Medicaid covers, or about long-term care, your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) provides free counseling on all these issues. Call (877) 839-2675 or visit http://ShiptaCenter.org to locate a nearby counselor.
You can also get help at http://Medicare.gov or by calling (800) 633-4227, and through the Medicare Rights Center, which staffs a helpline at (800) 333-4114.
Tap other resources
There are a number of other organizations you can draw on for additional information like the Family Care Alliance http://Caregiver.org/family-care-navigator, which provides a state-by-state listing of caregiving programs and services; http://Caring.com, which offers caregiving advice, senior housing information, and online support groups; the Alzheimer’s Association ALZ.org/care, which provides information unique to the challenges of dementia caregivers; and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs http://www.caregiver.va.gov, which offers caregiver support services to veterans and even spouses of veterans.
And, if you happen to be sharing care responsibilities with others, sites like http://LotsaHelpingHands.com and http://CaringBridge.org can help you coordinate together.
Take care of yourself
Make your own health a priority. Being a caregiver is a big job that can cause emotional and physical stress and lead to illness and depression. The only way you can provide the care your mother needs is to make sure you stay healthy.
Send your senior questions to Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman OK 73070, or visit http://SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today Show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.